The Zoning Officer shall not issue a zoning permit for the erection,
construction, reconstruction or alteration of a building in a subdivision
or land development, as defined below, prior to the approval of the
subdivision or land development plan in compliance with the procedures,
standards and regulations established in the Bucks County Subdivision
and Land Development Regulations, in the absence of a subdivision
and land development ordinance enacted by the Penndel Borough Council.
A. Subdivision, major and minor.
(1) A major subdivision is the division of a lot, tract or parcel of
land, or part thereof, into two or more lots, tracts or parcels of
land for the purpose, whether immediate or future, of transfer of
ownership or of building development.
(2) A minor subdivision is the division of a single lot, tract or parcel
of land into two lots, tracts or parcels of land for the purpose,
whether immediate or future, of transfer of ownership or of building
development, provided that the proposed lots, tracts or parcels of
land thereby created have frontage on an improved public street or
streets, and provided further that there is not created by the subdivision
any new street or streets, the need for required improvements, easement
or access or the need therefor.
B. Land development is:
(1) The improvement of one or more lots, tracts or parcels of land that
involves the installation of streets, driveways and/or parking areas.
The proposed uses shall be, but are not limited to, the following:
all commercial development, including shopping centers; industrial
and industrial parks; mobile home parks in which spaces are leased;
and multifamily residential. The vehicular accessways and parking
areas may or may not be offered for dedication. Single residential
uses shall be excluded.
(2) A division of land into lots for the purpose of conveying such lots
singly or in groups to any person, partnership or corporation for
the purpose of the erection of building by such partnership or corporation.
Any erection, construction, reconstruction, alteration or moving
of a building or other structure, including a sign authorized by a
zoning permit, shall be commenced and any change in use of a building
or land authorized by a zoning permit shall be undertaken within one
year after the date of issuance of the permit. If not, the permit
shall be considered null and void; provided, however, that in the
case of erection or construction of a building, the right to continue
with construction may be extended annually without payment of additional
fees for an aggregate period of not more than two years, provided
that the construction pursuant to said permit has commenced within
one year following issuance of the permit.
[Amended 11-7-1988 by Ord. No. 88-8]
Zoning permits shall be granted or refused within 30 days after
the date of application. No permit shall be issued until the Zoning
Officer has certified that the proposed building or alteration complies
with all the provisions of this chapter. In case of refusal, the applicant
shall be informed of his right of appeal to the Zoning Hearing Board.
Upon completion of the erection or alteration of any building or portion
thereof authorized by any permit obtained in compliance with this
chapter and prior to occupancy or use, the holder of such permit shall
notify the Zoning Officer of such completion. Occupancy shall not
be authorized until the Zoning Officer has certified that the work
has been inspected and approved as being in conformity with the permit
and the provisions of this chapter and other applicable ordinances
and has issued a certificate of occupancy where required as provided
below. All applications with accompanying plans and documents shall
be a public record.
[Amended 7-1-1991 by Ord. No. 91-2]
A certificate of occupancy shall be granted or refused within
30 days after the Zoning Officer has been notified of the completion
of the authorized construction or alteration or, where no construction
or alteration is involved, within 30 days after receipt of written
application therefor. Upon written request from the owner, the Zoning
Officer shall issue a certificate of occupancy for any building or
land existing at the time of enactment of this chapter, certifying,
after inspection, the extent and kind of use or disposition of the
buildings or land and whether such use or disposition conforms to
the provisions of this chapter. Pending completion of a building or
of alterations thereto, a temporary certificate of occupancy may be
issued by the Zoning Officer for the use of a part or all of the building,
provided that such temporary occupancy or use would not tend in any
way to jeopardize life or property. A record of all certificates of
occupancy shall be kept on file in an office of the Borough, and a
copy of any such permit shall be furnished upon request to any person
having a proprietary or tenancy interest in the building or premises.
[Amended 5-2-1983 by Ord. No. 83-5]
The fee for a permit shall be as set by resolution of the Borough
Council. Each applicant for an interpretation, special exception and/or
variance shall, at the time of making application, pay a fee in accordance
with a fee schedule to be adopted by resolution of the Borough Council.
The amount of the fee shall be predicated upon the average cost to
the Borough of the application or appeal, as nearly as it can reasonably
be determined, including advertising, mailing, reproduction, stenographic,
legal and similar expenses. The amount by which the fee exceeds the
actual costs of the proceeding shall be returned to the applicant
or appellant following the filing of the decision of the Zoning Hearing
Board. Payment of all costs must be made in full before a building
permit shall be issued.